ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 23 (UPI) — Majorities in Germany and France want their leaders to skip the Olympics opening ceremonies in Beijing this summer, a poll indicated.

The Financial Times/Harris Poll of 8,748 adults in France, Germany, the United States, Britain, Spain, Japan, Italy and China found 55 percent of German respondents want Chancellor Angela Merkel to skip the opening ceremonies and 54 percent of French respondents felt the same about President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Pluralities in Italy, Japan, the United States and Britain favored keeping their leaders away from the ceremonies.